from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Saddle \Sad"dle\, n. [OE. sadel, AS. sadol; akin to D. zadel, G.
sattel, OHG. satal, satul, Icel. s["o][eth]ull, Dan. & Sw.
sadel; cf. Russ. siedlo; all perh. ultimately from the root
of E. sit.]
1. A seat for a rider, -- usually made of leather, padded to
span comfortably a horse's back, furnished with stirrups
for the rider's feet to rest in, and fastened in place
with a girth; also, a seat for the rider on a bicycle or
tricycle.
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2. A padded part of a harness which is worn on a horse's
back, being fastened in place with a girth. It serves
various purposes, as to keep the breeching in place, carry
guides for the reins, etc.
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3. A piece of meat containing a part of the backbone of an
animal with the ribs on each side; as, a saddle of mutton,
of venison, etc.
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4. (Naut.) A block of wood, usually fastened to some spar,
and shaped to receive the end of another spar.
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5. (Mach.) A part, as a flange, which is hollowed out to fit
upon a convex surface and serve as a means of attachment
or support.
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6. (Zool.) The clitellus of an earthworm.
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7. (Arch.) The threshold of a door, when a separate piece
from the floor or landing; -- so called because it spans
and covers the joint between two floors.
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8. (Phys. Geog.) A ridge connected two higher elevations; a
low point in the crest line of a ridge; a col.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
9. (Mining) A formation of gold-bearing quartz occurring
along the crest of an anticlinal fold, esp. in Australia.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{Saddle bar} (Arch.), one the small iron bars to which the
lead panels of a glazed window are secured. --Oxf. Gloss.
{Saddle gall} (Far.), a sore or gall upon a horse's back,
made by the saddle.
{Saddle girth}, a band passing round the body of a horse to
hold the saddle in its place.
{saddle horse}, a horse suitable or trained for riding with a
saddle.
{Saddle joint}, in sheet-metal roofing, a joint formed by
bending up the edge of a sheet and folding it downward
over the turned-up edge of the next sheet.
{Saddle roof}, (Arch.), a roof having two gables and one
ridge; -- said of such a roof when used in places where a
different form is more common; as, a tower surmounted by a
saddle roof. Called also {saddleback roof}.
{Saddle shell} (Zool.), any thin plicated bivalve shell of
the genera {Placuna} and {Anomia}; -- so called from its
shape. Called also {saddle oyster}.
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